Imphal: The transport department of Manipur is all prepared to take up stringent actions against owners of motor vehicles that do not meet emission and pollution control norms. The smoke emission level of various diesel driven vehicles was checked using ‘smoke meter’ in a special drive conducted today at Inter State Bus Terminus complex, Imphal.

Speaking on the sidelines of the drive, commissioner of transport department, M. Lakshmikumar said that the intensified measure to check pollution was taken up as part of an action plan of the department following the directive from National Green Tribunal recently.

Expressing his concern over the rising levels of noise pollution and air pollution mainly in the city, the commissioner stated that the city dwellers and the general public are likely to suffer from various diseases because of the rising levels of pollutants.

While saying he also assured that the department will make collective efforts with Manipur Pollution Control Board to ensure a healthy environment for the commuters.

Joint Director, Transport department, BK Sharma pointed out that the maximum permissible limit of smoke emission is 65 Hartridge Smoke Unit (HSU). To check the emission level of the vehicles two centres have already been opened since few days back at ISBT where mechanical officers of Imphal West and Imphal East district sit in these centres and check the emission levels of the vehicles.

 If the emission levels are higher than 65 HSU, the documents of such vehicles will be seized and the owners will be asked to repair the vehicle until the emission level is lesser than the maximum permissible limit, he asserted.

The joint director informed that defective vehicles owners used to escape by paying a fine of Rs 100 under section 177 of the Motor Vehicle Act but now the owners of such vehicles will be booked for dangerous driving under section 184 of the Motor Vehicle Act along with a fine of Rs 600.

He clarified that the concerned authority were unable to take up the initiatives timely as they were earlier occupied with checking vehicles with due taxes, wrong parking, driving without helmet or fastening seatbelts. However, the department can no longer delay the check on pollution following the National Green Tribunal directive, he asserted.

It is a must for all vehicle owners to have Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate, which is issued to certify that motor vehicles meet emission and pollution control norms, he pointed out while appealing to the people to check their vehicles and to repair if it exceeds the maximum permissible limit not to attract legal action.